CJ was in a bit of a predicament. She had gotten to the final round of the speeches again and she couldn't decide if she should invite everyone. It was beyond stressful to have them all there but when the event ended she couldn't imagine them not being with her. And so CJ approached her family to tell them there were invited to another night of middle school speeches.
This year things were a little different, it is amazing what a little experience and knowledge will do to help the nerves. CJ was able to enjoy dinner with everyone even if she didn't eat a lot, Gibbs' non verbal pep talk didn't take as long and waiting beside the principal to address the school was sort of like morning announcements. And like last year CJ had kept her costume in a bag and changed backstage.
When her name was finally called she walked on stage dressed in an NCIS T-shirt, crime scene jacket, ball cap and a pair of hiking boots all just a little too big for her as she had "borrowed" them from her mother. And then she began.
I am Caitlyn Jennifer. You can call me CJ everyone else does. …..
And from there CJ took to explain who she was, where she got her name and then her family. She explained how each member joined the family, which role they played and some of the quirks that made them special. CJ ended by explaining that although the definition of family may include relation by blood or marriage to her that was not necessary to make someone family. Being invited to the first day of school dinner, Thanksgiving Day brunch or Christmas was what made you family. And then she told everyone how much she loved each and every one of her family members.
There wasn't a dry eye in the auditorium and the applause didn't start under the long haired goth stood up and clapped loudly.
CJ gave her biggest, brightest charismatic smile as she accepted her award.
Pizza and ice cream were the menu of choice when the whole crew returned to Tony and Ziva's place for an after event celebration.
CJ made sure to spend a few minutes with each person and tell them she meant what she said. The evening went late into the night and CJ took herself up to bed and fell asleep in her clothes.
Christmas break was just around the corner and CJ barely realized that any time had passed before she had the two weeks off.
Steven had spent a lot of time at their place and many a night on the living room couch watching movies. It was on one of these evenings that Ziva walked in to find Steven's arm around the back of CJ's shoulders and her leaning against him. Ziva stood for only a few moments before slowly backing out of the room. The intimacy was honest and innocent and she didn't want to make it into anything it wasn't.
Tony on the other hand when he heard the story from Ziva hit the roof. He knew what teenage boys were like and not one of them was going to go near his daughter not even Steven. Ziva had told him the story because she thought it was "sweet" and hadn't expected such a response. But knowing what Tony was like when she first met him she could only imagine what he'd been like younger. It took her a while to calm him down and convince him it was a solid friendship and nothing more. Regardless of what he agreed to he was keeping a much closer eye on those two.
School started up again and with it mid terms. Most spare time was spent revising and with the crumby weather there was little time to spend outside or hanging out with Steven. Exams proceeded without incident even in Mr. Gillis' class, which was a miracle. He wasn't a forgiving man and CJ was not having a pleasant experience in his class but she was able to keep her cool even when goaded and enjoyed making fun of him outside of class instead.
She hadn't dared to try anything else in any class since she'd found out that they had taken to taping classrooms they thought might be targets. She was bold but not stupid. The goal was to never get caught and if that wasn't a possibility then you had to find other things to keep busy. And the big grade eight class trip was in the spring and CJ didn't want to do something to jeopardize her attendance on that trip.
Spring finally arrived and CJ was happy and bouncing most days. The sun was shining and the end of the school year could be seen if you squinted really hard.
In one of CJ's visits to the NCIS lab she and Abby had talked about the next Habitat for Humanity build that Abby was going to be part of. CJ was not thrilled to find out that the donations had been down over the past few years and so CJ came up with a new keep CJ busy plan. She decided to organize "spirit days". These were days in which the students and staff wore certain colours of clothing, their PJ's, funny hats or sunglasses with a donation to the local Habitat for Humanity build.
The first of these days was a success but not as much as CJ had hoped so she asked Mr. Thompson if she could arrange an assembly for the older students in the school to participate in "building" lessons. Seeing CJ take the initiative and not want to squelch it Mr. Thompson agreed and asked Miss Parkin to help with the phone calls and administrative papers if need be.
The assembly was for any student in fourth grade and higher. CJ had Abby come in dressed in her "Habitat for Humanity" attire and explain what they did. Then there were stations both inside and outside the gym set up so that the students could participate in "hands on" lessons about building a house. Both students and staff loved the experience. It took an entire afternoon for the students to have a turn at each station. As the day came to a close Abby got back up on stage and explained that all the work was done by volunteers but that the money needed to buy the building materials was what was needed.
From that point on the spirit days were a huge success everyone understood what they were doing and how they were helping, and really who wouldn't want to wear their pajamas to school. By the end of the year they had raised almost ten thousand dollars from the staff, students and neighbours who had heard about what they were doing and donated as well. Mr. Thompson had suggested that they present the check to Habitat for Humanity at grade 8 graduation, but it was CJ who suggested the regular end of year assembly would be better as everyone had been involved in raising the money not just the 8th grade class. Standing on the stage CJ proudly presented the check to the local organization at the last assembly of the year for the entire school.
As exams loomed ever closer and CJ spent more and more time alone in her room her parents had completely relaxed about watching her. She was responsible, she did all her school work, and she was a leader amongst her peers in a positive way. They couldn't be more proud. Not only was she doing all her school work without prompting or reminders but she had stayed out of trouble for most of the year.
All that being said Tony still felt the need to discuss end of year pranks with CJ. And so at supper with a week left of school Tony stated "CJ there is a week left of school and I want you to make sure this week stays prank free, is that clear?"
"AH, well, I wanted to talk to you about that actually" CJ tentatively ventured. "I want you to contact Miss Parkin and tell her that you are ok with our planned "gift" for Mr. Thompson". She thought that if she called it a gift the idea might go over better. She had been working herself up to this conversation for several weeks now and had it all planned out.
"Gift… you think I don't know what you mean by that?" Tony's voice started to raise in pitch.
"Daaaadddd… just hear me out"
"Not likely"
It was Ziva who gently back handed Tony's arm and smiled at her daughter to encourage her to continue.
"Look… Mr. Thompson became principal a few years back… and … since then… the school has had a few pranks happen… and well… I am kind of known for them… and "CJ who had been looking at her plate moving the food around absent mindedly chanced to look at her father's face. "So you see I feel that it would be sort of …. Sad… really… if we didn't give the grade 8 class a good send off."
"Absolutely not"
"Daaaadddd, you aren't even thinking about it… look I PROMISE .. that nothing bad will happen… If you tell Miss Parkin that you approve of it then you know that there will be an adult in the middle of it and nothing can go wrong, or dangerous."
"Tony do you not think you should at least take a few minutes to think about it" Ziva interjected.
CJ quickly got her over exuberant feelings under control. She had her mother on her side she didn't want to ruin it by seeming out of control.
"We have spent the last three years trying to drum into this kid that pranks are not appropriate and you want to LET her set one up on the principal? Have you gone mad?" Tony's voice was now raised completely.
"If Miss Parkin is involved and she is keeping an ear on CJ then things cannot get out of control. I think it is nice that CJ wants to say goodbye to Mr. Thompson" Ziva offered.
"She is NOT saying goodbye…. She's setting him up! Can you NOT see the difference?" Tony spat out.
"I can… I think it is you … that cannot" with that Ziva stood and took her plate to the sink.
CJ continued to push her food around with her fork and stared intently at her food.
"I mean it Dad it won't be anything "bad". It will be a nice goodbye. And I promise if he wants help with anything that may be "misplaced" then I will help him sort it out. Please Dad …. I really want to… and I know that this isn't a "carte blanch"… I've been really really good all year… let me say goodbye and Thank you… my way." CJ was almost crying she wanted to do this so bad and really needed to avoid the unpleasant consequences at the end.
"What if you get paddled for it?" being the devil's advocate.
"I might… but I really don't think he will Dad… and you could always write a note stating I wasn't to be paddled anymore at school" CJ said with a bright smile.
"Not likely" setting his fork down and exhaling loudly.
"Please Dad … I really don't think I'll get in trouble… "
"You never do think that" he responded somewhat sarcastically.
"Daaaaddd"
"I'll make you a deal." CJ's ears perked up. "I will write a note to Miss Parkin, she is to be the final judge as to whether or not the plan goes through. But if you get into trouble at school I am not writing any note to get you out of punishment is that understood." He emphasized every word by pointing his fork at CJ with each thing he said.
"OH Dad, thank you thank you thank you" CJ rambled on and on, she had only been able to keep her excitement in check for about one millisecond. And as she ran to her room to let Steven know she had a green light she heard her father say to her mother "What have I just done?"
"You did the right thing" and she hugged him from behind.
The morning of the last day of school CJ was up and out the door well before she normally would have been. Picking up Steven on the way, once at school they met Miss Parkin at the front door of the completely empty school. The three got to work right away they didn't have a lot of time before people started to arrive.
CJ, Steven and Miss Parkiin were all wound up and were having difficulty waiting for Mr. Thompson to arrive.
When Mr. Thompson pulled into the parking lot he noticed right away something was off. And as he pull up to his parking spot a large smile broke across his face. Instead of an empty place to park is car was his office. Well the contents of his office. Set up in his spot were his desk, his chair, the carpet, the filing cabinet and even his computer was set up on his desk. A video camera was set up recording the whole scene. And attached to the front of the desk was a large sign "Goodbye Mr. Thompson, the Grade 8 class". He was one hundred and fifty percent sure this wasn't the work of the 8th grade class but that of one Miss CJ DiNozzo. He had to give it to the girl, she couldn't let the end of year prank slide without doing something. At least nothing was exploding!
He parked in a visitor's spot and still smiling entered the school. When he made his way into the outer office area there were three sets of eyes scanning his face, waiting for a reaction. CJ obviously wasn't trying to hide who had temporarily relocated his things and had commandeered some helpers. He had wanted to try and seem upset or at least disappointed but looking at the 3 of them standing there obviously proud of themselves he just couldn't do it. Instead he smiled and without saying a word opened his door to his personal office and that is when the smile turned to a laugh. He couldn't enter the office as it had been completed filled with balloons. Each of the balloons had the caption "You're the GREATEST!" in large white lettering.
As he laughed so did CJ, Steven and even the somewhat still nervous Miss Parkin. The four stood and laughed together for some time and each time he thought of his desk and chair in the parking lot the fits of laughter began again.
CJ was very pleased she had been able to finish her Elementary School Career with such a good memory. She was on her way to High School.